Collapsible basket

ABSTRACT

A collapsible basket includes posts and beams. Each of the posts includes two reduced ends. Each of the beams includes two collars each for receiving a related one of the reduced ends of a related one of the posts so that the beams are pivotal on the posts. Thus, the collapsible basket is moved between an extended position and a collapsed position.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collapsible basket.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

A typical collapsible basket includes inserts and sleeves for receiving the inserts. It is however troublesome and takes a lot of time to insert the inserts into the sleeves during assembly of the collapsible basket. It requires tools to assemble the collapsible basket, and the assembly is complicated. Furthermore, the result of the collapse is inadequate so that the collapsible basket takes a lot of space in a collapsed position during storage and transportation.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible basket that can easily be assembled.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible basket that occupies a little space in a collapsed position.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the collapsible basket includes posts and beams. Each of the posts includes two reduced ends. Each of the beams includes two collars each for receiving a related one of the reduced ends of a related one of the posts so that the beams are pivotal on the posts. Thus, the collapsible basket is moved between an extended position and a collapsed position.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a collapsible basket according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible basket shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a collapsed position of the collapsible basket shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a connecting unit provided on an upper side of the post.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a connecting unit provided on a lower side of the post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a collapsible basket 100 includes four posts 3, four lateral beams 4, three crossbars 5, eight connecting units 200, a grid 6, a frame 8 and a hanger 9 and according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each of the posts 3 includes two reduced ends 2.

Two of the crossbars 5 on a front side are provided between two of the posts 3 on the front side. The crossbar 5 on a rear side is provided between two of the posts 3 on the rear side. The crossbars 5 are connected to the posts 3 with rivets 13 for example. Thus, the front posts 3 and the front crossbars 5 become one while the rear posts 3 and the rear crossbar 5 become one.

Each connecting unit 200 is formed by a reduced end of the post 3, a collar 1 of the beams 4 and a positioning unit C. Each of the beams 4 includes two collars 1 each formed at an end. Each of the collars 1 of each of the beams 4 is pivotally provided on a related one of the reduced ends 2 of a related one of the posts 3. Said positioning unit C can be a screw 11 or a screw 12. A screw 11 is driven into a lower reduced end 2 of each of the posts 3. Each of the screws 11 includes a flat head used as a knob during assembly and as a pad in use. By referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a screw 12 is driven into an upper reduced end 2 of each of the front posts 3. Each of the screws 12 includes a spherical head used as a knob during the assembly. A thread is preferably formed on an internal side of each of the reduced ends 2 of each of the posts 3 for engagement with the thread formed on a related one of the screws 11 and 12. Each of the reduced ends 2 of each of the posts 3 and a related one of the collars 1 of a related one of the beams 4 is pivotally secured by the positioning unit C for providing collapsible feature.

The grid 6 includes two loops arranged along a rear edge and two hooks 7 arranged along a front edge. The loops of the grid 6 are provided around the rear front crossbar so that the grid 6 is pivotally connected to the rear crossbar 5. The hooks 7 can be provided on a lower one of the front crossbars 5 to retain the collapsible basket 100 in an extended position.

A rod 14A is provided between the front crossbars 5. A restraining unit 14B is provided between the rear posts 3. The restraining unit 14B includes a vertical rod provided between two horizontal rods. A rod 14C is provided between two related ones of the beams 4. The rods 14A and 14C and the restraining unit 14B are used to improve the strength of the collapsible basket 100 and restrain stuff disposed in the collapsible basket 100.

The frame 8 comprises two vertical rods 81 and two horizontal rods 82. Each vertical rod 81 includes a lower reduced end that can be inserted in an upper reduced end 2 of each of the rear posts 4 and an ear 15 disposed on the upper reduced end for receiving the hanger 9. The hanger 9 is substantially U-shaped. The hanger 9 includes a first portion pivotally connected to the frame 8 by passing through both ears 15 and secured by a screw 92, and a second portion on which a towel can be hung. The first portion of the hanger 9A is provided with a positioning element 10 for contact with one of the extensive rods 8, thus retaining the hanger 9A in an active position for supporting the towel.

To collapse the collapsible basket 100, the hanger 9 is pivoted on the frame 8 so that the second portion of the hanger 9 is located behind the frame 8. The hooks 7 are disengaged from the lower front crossbar 5, and the grid 6 is pivoted and located against the restraining unit 14B. Then, the beams 4 are pivoted on the posts 4 so that the collapsible basket 100 is collapsed.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A collapsible basket comprising: posts each comprising two reduced ends; and beams each comprising two collars each for receiving a related one of the reduced ends of a related one of the posts so that the beams are pivotal on the posts, thus moving the collapsible basket between an extended position and a collapsed position.
 2. The collapsible basket according to claim 1 comprising two crossbars provided between two related ones of the posts.
 3. The collapsible basket according to claim 2 comprising a grid pivotally connected to one of the crossbars and formed with at least one hook for engagement with another one of the crossbars.
 4. The collapsible basket according to claim 2 comprising rivets for connecting the crossbars to the posts.
 5. The collapsible basket according to claim 2 comprising a rod provided between two of the crossbars on a front side.
 6. The collapsible basket according to claim 1 comprising a restraining unit provided between two of the posts on a rear side.
 7. The collapsible basket according to claim 1 comprising a rod provided between two of the beams on a lateral side.
 8. The collapsible basket according to claim 1 comprising: a frame comprising two horizontal rods and two vertical rods, the vertical rods each provided on a related one of the posts on a rear side; a hanger pivotally provided on the frame; and a positioning element provided on the hanger so that the positioning element can be in contact with one vertical rod of the frame to retain the hanger in an active position.
 9. The collapsible basket according to claim 1 comprising screws each driven into a related one of the reduced end of a related one of the posts, thus retaining the collars of the beams on the reduced ends of the posts.
 10. The collapsible basket according to claim 9, wherein the screw comprises a flat head.
 11. The collapsible basket according to claim 9, wherein the screw comprises a spherical head. 